سل عن فؤادي سلعا فهو مثواه

وحي حي الحمى إن جزت مغناه

Ask Sal' about my heart, for there it dwells.

And greet the sanctuary's settlement if you pass its dwelling.

وانزل بوادي النقا من سفح كاظمة

واحذر عيون المها إن رسمت سكناه

And alight in Wadi al-Naqa, at the foot of Kazima,

and beware the oryx eyes if you plan to dwell there.

وقل لظبي جنى بالفتك ناظره

حلو الشمائل من بالفتك أفتاه

And say to a gazelle whose gaze has wrought slaughter,

sweet of nature: who sanctioned his slaying?

ومن على مهج العشاق سلطه

ومن على الغير بالألحاظ أغراه

And who gave him dominion over lovers' hearts?

And who incited him against others with his glances?

ريم رمى مهجتي عن قوس حاجبه

سهما أصاب صميم القلب اصماه

A white gazelle shot at my heart from the bow of his brow

an arrow that struck the heart's core and killed it outright.

ما كنت أحسب أن اللحظ يجرحني

حتى رمتني بسهم اللحظ عيناه

I never thought a glance could wound me

until his eyes shot me with the arrow of a glance.

يا عرب وادى النقا إن حل سقك دمى

في شرعكم فضميري ليس يأباه

O Arabs of Wadi al-Naqa, if shedding my blood is lawful

under your law, my conscience does not reject it.

إن متّ بالعشق لا خوف ولا جزع

فميت العشق دار الخلد مأواه

If I die of love, there is no fear and no dismay;

the home of one who dies of love is the Abode of Eternity.

وإن أعش كان لي في قربكم أمل

فالصبر تحمد بعد الضيق عقباه

And if I live, I have hope of nearness to you;

patience's outcome is praised after hardship.

لا أكذب الله قلبي بالنقا ولع

مهما بعدت فإني لست أنساه

I do not lie to God: my heart is enamored of al-Naqa;

however far I go, I do not forget it.

يا حادي العيس بلغ إن نزلت بهم

وجدى وشوقي وما بالبعد ألقاه

O driver of the white camels, convey, if you alight among them,

my passion, my yearning, and what I suffer in separation.

وقل صريع الهوى من وجده دنف

والنفس في لوعة والقلب أواه

And say: the one felled by love is sick with longing,

his soul in anguish, his heart sighing.

يبيت والشوق يطويه وينشره

ووابل الدمع خد الخد مجزاه

He spends the night as longing folds and unfolds him,

and a torrent of tears furrows the cheek along its course.

والنوم خالفه والسهد حالفه

والنجم في الليل أنى سار يرعاه

Sleep has forsaken him, and sleeplessness befriended him;

at night the star watches over him wherever it travels.

متى الليالى بذاك الحي تجعنا

إن الوجوه لبدر التم أشباه

When will the nights gather us in that settlement?

Those faces are likenesses of the full moon.

لله ربع به الأغصان مائسة

وروضة الغض حسن الزهر وشاه

How wondrous the dwelling where the branches sway,

and a fresh garden embroidered by the flowers' beauty!

هزت نسيم الصبا أعطاف دوحته

فعطرتنا بنفح المسك رباه

The east wind's breeze swayed its great tree's boughs,

and its hills perfumed us with wafts of musk.

وغردت فوق غصن البان ساجعة

من رقة اللحن أهل العشق قد تاهوا

A cooing bird sang above a moringa branch;

the melody's tenderness left the lovers bewildered.

إذا ادكرت حماهم يوم زورته

زدت انتعاشا ووجدا عند ذكراه

Whenever I recall their sanctuary and the day I visited it,

I grow more refreshed and more impassioned at its memory.

كأنني ويد الأشوقا تلعب بي

مجنون ليلى عراه وجد ليلاه

As though, while the hand of longing plays with me,

I were Layla's Majnun, seized by yearning for his Layla;

أوأنى ورجاء القرب خامرني

شربت راحا رويا من حمياه

or as though, while hope of nearness suffuses me,

I had drunk wine, sated with its intoxicating warmth.

لهفي عليه ففيه العز أجمعه

فما أتم الهنا فيه وأهناه

How I yearn for it, for all honor is within it;

how complete and blissful is the happiness within it!

منه بدا النور لا تخبو أشعته

ونور طه رسول الله جلاه

From it light arose, its rays never dimming,

and the light of Taha, God's Messenger, illumined it.

محمد من أنار الكون طلعته

وأصبح الكل مسرورا بمرآه

Muhammad, whose countenance illuminated the universe,

and everyone became delighted at seeing him:

الفاتح الخاتم المختار من مضر

من أيد الله بالقرآن دعواه

the Opener, the Seal, the Chosen One of Mudar,

whose claim God upheld through the Qur'an.

بخير وصف من الأوصاف جمله

وأشرف اسم من الأسماء سماه

He adorned him with the finest of attributes,

and named him with the noblest of names.

كل المحامد في أسمائه اجتمعت

فالاسم طابق في المعنى مسماه

All praiseworthy qualities gathered in his names;

thus the name matched its bearer in meaning.

كم آية ظهرت في يوم مولده

وكم وكم أفصحت بالنطق أفواه

How many signs appeared on the day of his birth!

And how many—how many—mouths spoke out!

وأصبح الشرك والأصنام في نكد

وذلّ من كان معتزا بعزّاه

Polytheism and idols fell into misery,

and he who gloried in his al-'Uzza was humbled.

وارتج إيوان كسرى عند مولده

وبات مضطرب الأفكار كسراه

Kisra's palace hall shook at his birth,

and its Kisra spent the night with his thoughts in turmoil.

والكفر قد أغمص العينين محتضرا

وقال واحسرتا أواه أواه

Unbelief closed both eyes, dying,

and cried: Alas for me! Ah, ah!

الحق جاء وروح الكفر قد زهقت

والحق يعلو لأن الله أعلان

Truth came, and the spirit of unbelief expired;

truth rises, for God exalted it.

شهر الربيع علا قدرا بمولده

وزاد عن بهجة العيدين ذكراه

The month of Rabi' rose in rank through his birth,

and its remembrance surpassed the joy of the two Eids.

وكيف لا ورسول الله شرفه

بيمن طلعته الغرا واسماه

And how could it not, when God's Messenger honored it

with the blessing of his radiant appearance and raised it high?

وكان مسراه والمعراج في رجب

فحبذا حبذا للسعد مشراه

His night journey and ascension took place in Rajab;

how excellent, how excellent, his journey toward bliss!

فكان معراجه للعرش متصلا

سبحان من جعل المعراج مرقاه

His ascension thus reached the Throne;

glory to Him who made the Ascension his stairway!

وقد دنا فتدلى من حظيرته

وخصه بجميل القرب مولاه

He drew near and descended from His sacred precinct,

and his Lord singled him out for splendid nearness.

لسدرة المنتهى جبريل أوصله

والنور بالسر يغشاه ويغشاه

Gabriel brought him to the Lote-tree of the Utmost Limit,

and light, in mystery, enveloped him and enveloped him.

كقاب قوسين أو أدنى له انكشفت

حجب الغيوب وبالتعظيم حياه

At about two bow-lengths, or nearer, there were unveiled to him

the veils of the unseen, and He greeted him with honor.

فنال ما نال من إجلال خالقه

لا العرش يدرى ولا من فيه مغزاه

He attained what he attained of his Creator's exaltation;

neither the Throne nor those upon it know its meaning.

منه عليه صلاة الخمس قد فرضت

في كل يوم بلا وحي تلقاه

From Him, the five prayers were ordained for him,

for each day; he received this without revelation.

هذي هي النعمة العظمى لأمتّه

فيها السعادة والإجلال والجاه

This is the greatest blessing for his community;

within it are happiness, honor, and standing.

تلك المزية لم يظفر بها أحد

ولم يفز بارتقاء العرش إلا هو

No one else attained that privilege,

and none but he attained ascent to the Throne.

فالعرش بالمصطفى لا شك مفتخر

مذ سار فوق بساط العرش نعلاه

The Throne is undoubtedly proud of the Chosen One,

since his two sandals trod upon the carpet of the Throne.

من ذا يدانيه أو من ذا يشابهه

والله دون جميع الرسل أدناه

Who could come near him, or who could resemble him,

when God drew him near in preference to all the messengers?

وكيف لا وإله العرش في أزل

من نوره ببديع الصنع سواه

And how could it be otherwise, when the Lord of the Throne, in eternity,

fashioned him from His light with wondrous craftsmanship?

فكان نورا على نور يسر به

من شاهد النور يزهو في محياه

He was light upon light, a delight to

whoever beheld the light glowing in his countenance.

وكان بالحلم والآداب متصفا

إن الإله على الآداب رباه

He was endowed with forbearance and good manners;

God Himself raised him in good manners.

كل الكمالات في خير الورى اجتمعت

وكل لفظ جليل فهو معناه

All perfections gathered in the best of creation,

and every noble word finds its meaning in him.

قد بين الله في نون فضائله

ومنتهى الفضل فيما بين الله

God has set forth his virtues in Nun;

the utmost excellence lies in what God set forth.

هذا النبي أباد الكفر صارمه

من بعد ما عاندوا في رد دعواه

This Prophet's sharp sword annihilated unbelief

after they stubbornly rejected his claim.

ففاز بالعز من ولاه وجهته

ومن تولى فإن الله أخزاه

Thus he who turned toward him won honor,

and whoever turned away, God disgraced.

عقابه الأسد والعقبان تتبعه

لتغنم الفىء من أشلاء قتلاه

Lions are his retribution, and eagles follow him,

to win spoils from the remains of those he slew.

تعنو لهيبته الأبطال واجمة

من بأسه وذوو التيجان تخشاه

Heroes bow to his awe, struck speechless

by his might; crowned heads fear him.

خرت له سجدا من فرط هيبته

والكل منهم بصدق الوعد وفاه

They fell before him prostrate from his overwhelming awe,

and all of them faithfully kept their promise to him.

لو لم يوفوا بصدق الوعد صبحهم

بجحفل لجب كالشهب مرماه

Had they not faithfully kept their promise, he would have assailed them at dawn

with a roaring army whose missiles were like meteors.

إن قام جد ولا يلوى على أحد

وإن دعاه فرند السيف لباه

When it rises, it is resolute, turning aside for no one,

and when the sword's gleaming steel calls it, it answers,

من كل أروع لا تنبو مضاربه

صعب الشكيمة من لاقاه أرداه

made up of dauntless men whose sword-edges never glance off,

hard to bridle, each felling whoever meets him.

كأنهم خلقوا للطعن من صغر

أو قلبهم من صميم الصخر مبناه

As though they were made for spear-thrusts from childhood,

or their heart were built from the very core of rock.

لا يبتغون سوى الرضوان منزلة

وكل من يبتغي الرضوان أرضاه

They seek no rank but divine approval,

and all who seek that approval are gratified.

وقائد العز يوم الحشر قائدهم

وكل من قاده المختار بشراه

The leader of glory on the Day of Gathering is their leader;

glad tidings to everyone led by the Chosen One!

هذا النبي له الأشجار قد سجدت

والضب أعرب بالفصحى وحيّاه

The trees prostrated themselves before this Prophet,

and the desert lizard spoke eloquent Arabic and greeted him.

والظبى كلمة والجذع حن له

فضمة وبحسن الصبر أوصاه

The gazelle spoke to him, and the trunk yearned for him;

so he embraced it and counseled it to bear patiently,

وأنه من غراس الخلد في غده

فطاب نفسا إلى ما سوف يلقاه

and that, on its morrow, it would be among the plantings of eternity.

So its soul was content with what it would encounter.

له الذراع بدس السم قد نطقت

فلم يذقها وحسن النطق نجاه

The foreleg spoke to him of the poison concealed in it;

so he did not taste it, and its eloquent speech saved him.

ورد ين قتاد بعد ما قلعت

ودين جابر أدنى النمر وفاه

And he restored Qatada's eye after it had been plucked out,

and paid Jabir's debt with the least of the dates.

بلمسه الشاة درت بعد ما يبست

لله در غدا الهادي وأرواه

At his touch the ewe yielded milk after going dry;

how wondrous the milk that nourished the Guide and slaked his thirst!

من كفه فاض نبع الماء منبجسا

فراق شربا كما قد راق مجراه

From his palm a spring of water gushed forth;

it was delightful to drink, as its flowing course was delightful.

باليمن واليسر كف المصطفى وكفت

سيان في الجود يمناه ويسراه

The Chosen One's hand showered blessing and ease;

his right hand and his left are equal in generosity.

لولا النبي ولولا سر بعثته

ما كان كون ولا الخلاق أنشاه

Were it not for the Prophet and the mystery of his mission,

no cosmos would have existed, nor would the Creator have made it,

ولا وجود لهذا الكون من عدم

ولم يكن آدم شاقته حواه

nor would this universe have come into being from nothing,

nor would Adam have been enthralled by his Eve,

ولا سماء ولا شمس ولا قمر

ولا استنار الدجى لولاه لولاه

nor would there have been sky, sun, or moon,

nor would darkness have been illumined without him, without him.

يا من سما العرش والأفلاك منزلة

ومن بنصر الصبا قد خصه الله

O you whose rank surpassed the Throne and the spheres,

and whom God singled out for the east wind's aid,

ومن أناف على الجوزاء مقعده

ومن حباه المعالي حين أعطاه

and whose seat rose above al-Jawza',

and whom He endowed with lofty honors in His giving,

ومن إذا التجأ العاني لجانبه

يبغى العناية أغناه وأقناه

and you who, when a distressed soul seeks refuge at your side,

seeking care, enrich him and grant him possessions,

قلبي بحبك مغمور وممتلىء

وبيت حبك حاشى الضيق يغشاه

my heart is immersed in your love and filled with it,

and the home of your love—far be it from distress to enter it!

ولا يعذب قلب أنت ساكنه

بل جنة الخلد والفردوس مأواه

No heart that you inhabit will be tormented;

rather, the Garden of Eternity and Firdaws are its abode.

يسعى إلى الحور والولدان مغتبطا

ولا يخيب بفضل الله مسعاه

It hastens joyfully to the houris and the youths,

and by God's grace its striving does not fail.

فكن شفيعي إذا ما الناس قد حشروا

والصحف قد نشرت والناس قد تاهوا

So be my intercessor when the people have been gathered,

the records unfurled, and the people bewildered,

وأشفق الكل من خوف ومن فزع

وبان من طائرى ما كنت أخشاه

and everyone apprehensive with fear and alarm,

and my record reveals what I had feared.

فامنن عليّ بعطف منك يشملني

فأنت وحدك لي دون الورى جاه

Then favor me with compassion from you that enfolds me,

for you alone, beyond all creation, are my means of favor.

فأحمد الحملاوي فرع دوحتكم

حاشاك حاشاك يوم الهول تنساء

For Ahmad al-Hamlawi is a branch of your great tree;

far be it from you, far be it, to forget him on the day of terror!

واجعل له منك حظا لا يفارقه

مى الزمان بدنياه وأخراه

And grant him a portion from you that never leaves him

throughout time, in his earthly life and his hereafter.

واعطف على من بمحض الحب أخلصه

وألأصل والفرع مع أفراد قرباه

And show kindness to the one made sincere by pure love,

and to root and branch, with all his kin,

ومن حمى دينك السامي وأيّده

وللعباد بصدق القصد أداه

and to whoever protected and upheld your exalted faith,

and conveyed it to the servants with sincere purpose,

والآل والصحب والأحباب قاطبة

ما حرّك الشوق مشتاقا لرؤياه

and to the family, companions, and loved ones, all,

as long as longing stirs a yearning soul to see him.